Read This Book!

Lisa Von Drasek hosts Read This Book!, which features University of Minnesota librarians who review books from various genres: including children’s literature, cookbooks, science, mysteries, and popular literature.

"Slayer" and "Chosen" are the two books, by New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White, reviewed on this installment of Read This Book by Lisa Von Drasek, Curator of the University of Minnesota Children's Literature Research Collections.

Dean of Libraries Lisa German joins Lisa Von Drasek to review "The Color Kittens" on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. "The Color Kittens" is a children's book by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen, and published, as part of the Little Golden Books series, in 1949.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Kristen Mastel has chosen three books to highlight the environment and the world around us. They are: "Braided Sweetgrass," by Robin Wall Kimmerer, "Onigamiising: Seasons of an Ojibwe Year" by Linda LeGarde Grover, and "Climate Justice" by Mary Robinson.

With schools closed and libraries shuttered due to COVID-19, children find themselves sequestered at home — many without enough books or activities to appease their curiosity. Enter Lisa Von Drasek, the energetic curator of the University of Minnesota’s Children’s Literature Research Collections, who has created a social media campaign called #OperationReadAloud as a way to reach children and families.

Lisa Von Drasek discusses Making Comics by Scott McCloud, Making Comics by Lynda Barry, and Comics: Easy as ABC by Ivan Brunetti in this episode of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries.

Jessica Abbazio, the University of Minnesota music librarian, reviews "The Lunar Chronicles" by Melissa Meyers on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. The Lunar Chronicles is a series of young adult science fiction novels that are futuristic retellings of classic fairy tales.

Cody Hennesy gave a thumbs up to Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World by Meredith Broussard in the latest installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. In the book, Broussard argues that our collective enthusiasm for applying computer technology to every aspect of life has resulted in a tremendous amount of poorly designed systems.

Our Music Librarian Jessica Abbazio reviews "A Wild Ride Through the Night" by Walter Moers for this installment of Read This Book from the University Libraries. "A Wild Ride through the Night" describes the exhilarating and comic adventures of his twelve-year-old protagonist Gustave, a boy who aspires one day to be a great artist.

Librarian Kristen Mastel recommends two nature books — 'Into Nature' and 'The Hidden Life of Trees' — on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries, hosted by Lisa Von Drasek.

Librarian Alicia Kubas reviews "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor — a New York Times bestseller and Michael L. Printz honor book, which is an epic fantasy about a mythic lost city and its dark past.

Two books by Amy Krouse Rosenthal were featured in this episode of Read This Book! from the University of Minnesota Libraries. Danya Leebaw and Host Lisa Von Drasek discussed Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life and Little Pea — two of Leebaw's favorite books by Rosenthal.